Eye-shade



(No 'Model.)

B. B. NEWEL-L.

EYE SHADE.

Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

N PETERS Pholn-Lithngmphen Wuhinglun. 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN BURLETGH NEWELL, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

EYE-SHADE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,348, dated October 11, 1887.

Application filed January 2, 1886. Serial No.187,465. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BURLEIGH NEWELL, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eye-Shades for the Use of Editors, Printers, Accountants,and others \Vorking by Artificial Light, of which the followingspecification, in connection with the drawing annexed, forms a full and complete description.

Eye-shades as heretofore produced have all been more or less open to series objection on account of the discomfort to which the person is subjected while wearing them. This annoyance arises from the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts by which the supporting band or strip is caused to encircle the head closely, after the manner of the ordinary hat or cap body, thus preventing the proper circulation of air to the parts adjacent to the strip or band and inducing the formation of perspiration and the consequent irritation of said parts.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a shade which shall effectually shield the eyes from the glare of light, at the same time keeping the head, andespecially the forehead and temples, free from pressure or binding of the encircling band and the heating and irritation resulting therefrom. I also aim to provide an adjustable band by which the device may be used by different persons, and a further adjustment by which the depth or its position up or down may be regulated at will.

\Vith these objects in view my invention consists, fundamentally, of a band or frame of larger dimensions than the size of the head, carrying at one end ashield or vizor and having also attached thereto supporting arms or lappets adapted to rest upon the top of the head and support the whole device.

Further, the invention consists in the enlarged band having the vizor attached thereto at one end and the supporting-arms attached near a central point and extending transversely across the frame, in combination with the weighted rear end of the band or rim.

The invention furtherlies in certain adj ustable features and in the details of construction which severally operate to make the combination more effective for the purpose.

In the drawing the figure represents a plan view of the device.

The band A is made of any material suitable for the purpose. In form the band corresponds to the shape of the head. At the front end the vizor B, of ordinary size and shape, is attached. In order to support the band and shield, I attach lappets or arms C C to the sides of the band at opposite points, a little forward of the center. These are formed, as shown, of light material, and are projected upwardly and inwardly toward each other. They may be slightly curved, if desired, to better conform to the shape of the head. Broad bearing-su rfaccs are provided each arm, adapted to rest upon the head and prevent any undue movement of the shade.

The dimensions of the encircling band are such that the forehead will not at any point be in contact therewith; and it will thus be seen the entire weight of the shade is supported by the lappets or arms C'C, resting upon the top of the head, the forehead and temples being entirely free from pressure or irritation,which would of course result did the baud rest thereon. of light material, such as shown, and resting upon the hair, no uncomfortable nor indeed perceptible pressure is caused.

It is not absolutely necessary that the transverse diameter of the frame should be materially larger than the head, as the point most affected by the pressure is the forehead, and the band may therefore conform to the sides or temples without, however, bearing thereon. It will be obvious, however, that the best results are accomplished by the form above de scribed.

I prefer to weightthe rear part of the frame or band slightly, as shownat Z, to counterbalance the weight of the vizor, which might otherwise tend to tilt the frame and displace the vizor, the supports C C acting as a fulcrum for this action. WVhile I do not regard this weighting as necessarily vital to the success of the device, since the rear section of the head-band would in itself serve fairly to meet the purpose, its employment is, however, desirable, acting to give stability to the frame and steadiness to the vizor.

From an inspection of the drawing it will Thelappets being formed be seen that the head-band is made in two parts, that marked a forming the fore part of the frame, and that marked b extending around the back, being connected at its ends to the ends of the portion 1), as at d. The sides of the part a diverge toward the rear, and in the ends are positioned staples or eyes, which are adapted to receive and hold by frictional contact the ends of the portion b. This constitutes-an adjustable connection, and by sliding the part b backward or forward the length of the frame is lengthened or shortened accord diverging toward the rear, as above described.

It will be readily understood that the size of the frame need not bear any certain or fixed relation to the size of the head, it being only essential that the entire weight shall fall upon the supports 0 C, and that the frame or band shall stand away from the foreh-eadl and temples, and it is therefore obvious that a rigid frame may be employed instead of the adj ustable one just described, the size of the said frame being determined to suit an average or large-sized head. Roughened surfaces may be formed upon the interior of the band to engage with the hair and prevent movement. As the lappets G G are entirely separate from each other, and are composed of light or flexible material, they may be bent up or down more or less in order to shift the position of the shield in relation to the eyes. A light cord or rubber may extend across the space from lugs or arms projecting from a band or frame which is in turn supported by the forehead and temples of the wearer. This does not tend to effect the result accomplished by the construction sought to be protected herein, as the entire weight is supported by the baud resting upon the head.

I am also fully aware that a vizor has been used in combination with spring-arms adapted to be clasped upon the forehead and temples, I

and to provide a supporting band or strip extending laterally between said arms, so as to restupon the head. I wishto disclaima'll the arrangements just referred to. I disclaim also the idea of providing a supporting-band for the top of the head.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an eye-shade, andin combination, the band or frame A, of greater length than the head, the vizor 13, attached to the forward end, and asupporting arm or arms adapted to rest upon the upper portion of the head, whereby the vizor and band are positioned away from the forehead and temples,substantiall y as described.

2. In combination, the frame A, of larger dimensions than the head, the vizor B, attached at one end thereof, the opposite end of said frame being-weighted, and the inter mediate transversely-extending supports, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the frame A, having the vizor B attached thereto, said frame being made in two parts, adapted ,to be adjusted one upon the other, substantially as described.

4. The frame having the vizor attached thereto, being formed with roughened portions D D, substantially as described.

5. In combination, the vizor, the frame therefor, and the supporting-arms G O, inde-' pendentof each other and extending inwardly and upwardly to rest upon the head, said arms being adapted to be adjusted substantially as described.

BENJAMIN BURLEIGHNEWELL. Witnesses:

D. N. RoBINsoN, F. B. TYLER. 

